Art Craft Tools, Material Supply Tips & Recommedations

Artists know that you need more than just a great subject or inspiration to create art. The right art tools, art supplies and art materials can give you the freedom to bring your artistic vision to life. Hear from our authors & artists as they discuss their favorite art materials such as brushes, palettes, pastel primers, art studio lighting, knives, canvases and substrates – helping you bring your most to your next piece.

Photographing Paintings | Keeping a Record of Your Work

Posted on April 8, 2013 by Richard

Photographing finished paintings can be one of the most frustrating aspects of painting, but still one of the most necessary. These photographic records are invaluable when reminiscing about past accomplishments, a necessity for entering most juried exhibitions, and a prerequisite for publication. Since most artists either sell or gift their works, it’s paramount to keep a high quality photographic record for future reference. Full Article

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Framing Tips for Pastel Paintings | Reusing Frames

Posted on April 1, 2013 by Richard

Framing can be one of the most costly aspects of our pastel painting careers. Frames are expensive, never mind the glass, mats, backing, and fitting charges when a professional framer is utilized. We invest in the hope that someone will open their wallet and purchase a painting, helping us to recoup some of our overhead. It’s a speculative business at best. Full Article

Posted in Art Articles: Education & Topics, Art Craft Tools, Material Supply Tips & Recommedations, Art Mediums & Drawing, Get Pastel Journal, the Ultimate Resource for Pastel Artists, Pastel Art Techniques Painting Landscapes & More, Richard McKinley's Pastel Pointers Blog, Top Art Blogs | Tagged Art Business | Comments Off

Painting Surfaces for Pastel | The New Kids

Posted on March 18, 2013 by Richard

Pastel is unique among fine art media, because it doesn’t have an inherent binder to hold it onto a surface like all other forms of painting. This difference is one of the reasons it gets classified as a drawing medium in some circles. Pastelists, though, most often associate their intent with the act of painting. While the end result of painting with pastel may visually resemble binder-based paints, it does rely on one component that they do not. It requires enough tooth and surface density for adhesion. Full Article

Posted in Art Articles: Education & Topics, Art Craft Tools, Material Supply Tips & Recommedations, Get Pastel Journal, the Ultimate Resource for Pastel Artists, Pastel Art Techniques Painting Landscapes & More, Richard McKinley's Pastel Pointers Blog, Top Art Blogs | Comments Off

Surfaces for Pastel Painting | Fibrous Vs Sanded Pastel Papers

Posted on March 11, 2013 by Richard

The interaction between a painting medium and surface plays an integral part in an artist’s painting technique and the final appearance of the artwork. This is especially true with pastel. While wet media, such as watercolor and oil, are applied with a brush that is capable of pushing pigment into a porous surface, pastel is applied dry, relying on the textural nature of the surface for adequate adhesion. Full Article

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How to Display Art on Paper

Posted on March 4, 2013 by hollyd

Wondering how to display art on paper? Get advice from the pros: Litsa Spanos, Chris Morris and Craig Valentine of Art Design Consultants; Paul Schaff of Wellage and Schaff Fine Art Services; Michael Chesley Johnson, pastel artist; Jean Pederson, watermedia artist; and Michael Skalka, Chairman ASTM D01.57. Full Article

Posted in Art Articles: Education & Topics, Art Craft Tools, Material Supply Tips & Recommedations, Art Questions Answered by our Experts, Other Subject, Read The Artist's Magazine | Tagged framing, works on paper | Comments Off

Homemade Gesso Recipe for a True Gesso Panel

Posted on January 31, 2013 by hollyd

Koo Schadler takes you through the process of making homemade gesso and gesso panels. Included in her instructions are supply lists, a gesso recipe and instructions on how to apply gesso on wood or hardboard panels. Full Article

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Getting Organized | The Pastel Edition, Part 1

Posted on December 24, 2012 by Richard

Many pastel artists will awake on Tuesday morning to the thrill of opening presents. If in the past year, Santa Claus has deemed them to be nice not naughty, they will have undoubtedly received pastels instead of a lump of coal. While coal may produce some interesting drawing effects, it’s the prospect of adding additional sticks of pastel to one’s palette that thrills most pastelists. No matter how many brands, hues, chromas or values of pastel an artist may have, more is better. As any pastelist knows, the one with the most when they die – wins! Deciding how best to store, assimilate and record the pastels is when the three Ds of pastel organization arise. Full Article

In the Dark | A Place for Black in Your Pastel Color Palette

Posted on December 3, 2012 by Richard

Half of a pastel strip darkened with workable fixative and a few of the rich darks offered by today’s manufacturers.

While I am not a proponent of over-using darks in landscape painting, there are times when intense rich darks are useful. So don’t avoid black as a pigment and workable fixative as a tool. They can serve the pastelist well. Read more about the art of color, and experiment with new organic pigment pastel offerings, which can expand your painting possibilities. Full Article

7 Fabulous Gifts for Artists | The Pastel Artist’s Edition

Posted on November 29, 2012 by Jessica Canterbury, Managing Editor

Do your holiday shopping now from the comfort of your own home, and you can have everything wrapped, tagged and ready to go without navigating any traffic hassles or crowds! Our “Fabulous Gifts for Artists | The Pastel Artist’s Edition” … Full Article